2021 Beauty Awards – Part 1 – Face & Fragrances

Hi there! Today’s post is about my favourite beauty products in 2021 – well, this is Part 1, and it’s about fragrances and products for the face. Part 2 will follow tomorrow with hair and body products and my favourite manis of 2021. Alrighty, let’s start with Part 1 now!

FACE

Danielle 2 In 1 Jade Dual Sided Facial Roller

This facial roller is my favourite beauty tool of 2021! It changed my life!

Superdrug Vitamin C Detox Skincare Brightening Vitamin C Tonic
Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Tonic

These 2 toners are total game changers. I love them both so much, and I cannot imagine my skin care without them!

Max Factor Face Finity All Day Flawless Flexi-Hold 3 In 1 Foundation 30 Porcelain

I’m glad I tried Max Factor’s Face Finity foundation. I love it!

Olay Anti-Wrinkle Firm & Lift Eye Renewal Gel

Olay’s eye gel is one of my all-time favourite eye products.

Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Ageing Regenerating Night Cream

Olay’s Regenerist night cream is soooo good!

Cellio It’s True Honey Moisture Cream

I enjoyed Cellio’s honey moisturiser very much!

Poundland #6 Anti-Ageing Retinol Day Cream With SPF 25

Poundland’s £3 retinol day cream is absolutely lovely (just like the matching serum and night cream).

Primark PS… Revitalising Cucumber Peel Off Mask
Montagne Jeunesse Cosmic Rose Quartz Peel-Off

These 2 peel off masks are very effective! I love them!

Global Beauty Care Anti Aging Collection Glycolic Acid Spa Treatment Mask
DearBoo Collagen & Canola Flower Everyday Mask

And these 2 sheet masks made a positive difference to my skin care. Highly recommended!

Jayjun Pollution-Proof Refreshing Mask
100% Cruelty-Free – Primark PS… Vitamin C Revitalizing Bubble Sheet Mask

2 more face masks which worked amazingly well for me!

Mitomo Retinol Facial Essence Mask
Esfolio Hyaluronic Acid With Peach Essence Mask Sheet

And here’s another 2 face masks I’d highly recommend.

Astor Rouge Couture 301 Nude Silk

Astor’s Nude Silk lipstick is so beautiful! I love it!

FRAGRANCES

Nina Ricci L’Extase Eau De Parfum

L’Extase is such a beautiful fragrance. It’s in my all-time top 40 from the past 25+ years.

Antonio Banderas Her Golden Secret Eau De Toilette

Who would have thought that Antonio Banderas fragrances are actually very good? I was surprised (almost shocked) to find such a quality fragrance at a drugstore price. Wow!

Agent Provocateur Fatale Eau De Parfum

Fatale EdP has blown me away! I already bought another bottle – this time I bought a big 100ml!

Superdrug Layering Lab Blossom Body Mist
Superdrug Layering Lab Paradise Body Mist

Superdrug’s fantastic Layering Lab body mists resemble some of the most popular designer fragrances. Blossom is a dupe for Mugler’s Alien, and Paradise is a dupe for Olympéa.

Have you tried any of these products or would you like to try any of them? Which products do you love the most? Feel free to get in touch via the comments. And thanks for stopping by!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Max Factor Face Finity All Day Flawless Flexi-Hold 3 In 1 Foundation 30 Porcelain

Hi there! Today’s post is about this Max Factor Face Finity All Day Flawless Flexi-Hold 3 In 1 Foundation 30 Porcelain which I’ve been using on and off for a few months now. This product is a 3 in 1 = primer, concealer and foundation. It promises a flawless, shine-proof and matte finish that lasts all day and buildable medium to full coverage. This foundation is non-comedogenic, and it has SPF 20!

I have very dry skin, and based on the description, this isn’t the most suitable foundation for me. I’m glad I didn’t know much about the foundation before I bought it, otherwise I would have given it a pass. But I’m happy that I discovered it and made it work for me! And here’s why I love this foundation:

It’s a perfect match for my face. With most foundations I’ve tried, the lightest shade is often 1-3 nuances too dark for me, so I was over the moon to find the perfect shade. The foundation is liquid – which isn’t my favourite formula, but it can be applied easily with clean hands. I tried a make-up sponge and a foundation brush, but these methods aren’t the best. In terms of coverage, one and a half pump is the perfect amount of foundation that I need for flawless, full coverage. The foundation is best applied quickly.

I’ve noticed that this foundation doesn’t play well with every serum or face cream. Some products make the foundation ball up, others make it impossible to even apply the foundation. What works for me is face mist + oil serum + rich moisturiser. When I apply the foundation on top of the perfect base, it gives me a flawless finish that really lasts all day. One thing though: If you’re like me and you have very dry skin, you need to get on top of your dry patches first as this foundation is not very forgiving.

All in all, I love this foundation! I found the right products to make it work for me, and I love how it makes my face look and feel. Once I run out of Pan Stiks, this will be my new go-to foundation (unless Max Factor ruins this formula too).

Max Factor Face Finity All Day Flawless Flexi-Hold 3 In 1 Foundation 30 Porcelain is available as 30ml for about £13.99 (although Boots and Superdrug often do 3 for 2). I bought 2 bottles for £4.99 each at B&M Bargains!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Olay Essentials Glow Perfectors BB Cream Light

Hi there! Today’s post is about the facial moisturiser that I’ve been using for almost 3 weeks now – Olay Essentials Glow Perfectors BB Cream. I bought the shade “Light“. This product is a moisturising cream mixed with a Max Factor Foundation. It contains niacinamide, vitamins B and E, pro-vitamin B5, as well as SPF 15.

This moisturiser promises 24-hour hydration and an even complexion for a perfect everyday look. Alrighty… read on if you’d like to know if this product is any good.

I like this product, but I don’t love it. First of all, the shade light is way too dark for pale girls. I have to mix it with my pale winter foundation (Max Factor Pan Stik 12 True Beige) because it looks grotesque if I use it with my regular foundation (Max Factor Pan Stik 25 Fair). When blended with my pale winter foundation, it does look good.

I’m happy to report that this BB Cream is very hydrating, and that it plays well with all the makeup products I apply on top of it. So based on this, I have no reason to complain. However, whilst I will finish this product for sure, I won’t repurchase it because it just isn’t the most suitable moisturiser for me.

If you’re interested, Olay Essentials Glow Perfectors BB Cream is available as 50ml. I paid £3.50 (clearance).

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 HR Breathable Foundation With SPF 20 / 200 Soft Beige

Hi there! Today’s post is about Rimmel‘s Lasting Finish 25 HR Breathable Foundation With SPF 20. The shade I’ve tried is 200 Soft Beige. I would have needed the lightest shade, but this one was alright for the purpose of testing the foundation on a stay-at-home day.

This foundation promises medium flawless coverage that lasts all day as well as UV protection. Applying the foundation is easy – Rimmel says it’s best applied with your fingers or with a make-up brush. I’ve now tried this foundation, and here’s what I think.

I can make a long story short – I think this foundation is awful! It’s not suitable for dry skin at all. The foundation dried too quickly, it creased badly, and it highlighted lines that I’ve never even seen before! I also found the coverage disappointing. I think the coverage is light to medium at best.

As if this weren’t enough… despite the relatively poor coverage, this foundation felt like a mask, and it looked extremely cakey. I tried to fix it with a damp sponge, but it didn’t work. And here’s the best bit! This foundation made my face look like the land of one million pores. Yikes! 😨

Based on my experience, I wouldn’t recommend this foundation at all. I make room for the possibility that it might work for other skin types, but if you have dry skin, this foundation isn’t for you.

Rimmel‘s Lasting Finish 25 HR Breathable Foundation With SPF 20 is available as 30ml for £8.29.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Max Factor Face Finity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation Natural 50

Hi there! Today’s post is about Max Factor’s Face Finity All Day Flawless 3 In 1 Foundation which I had a sample of. The shade I tried was Natural 50.

OK, so what does the product do? In a nutshell, this foundation promises to prime, conceal and cover (this is the 3 in 1 bit). And it claims to provide longlasting and flawless coverage. Read on if you’d like to know if it’s any good.

Max Factor Face Finity is a liquid foundation. I’m not the biggest fan of liquid foundations, but this one was quick and easy to apply. The shade Natural 50 was a bit too dark for me, but it wasn’t too bad. It was in the “still OK” range. 🙂

I was very impressed with the way the foundation looked on me because it gave me pretty much full coverage. Despite this, the foundation didn’t look cakey or unnatural, and it didn’t settle into my fine lines. So yeah, I think the finish was almost flawless!

I checked my face numerous times throughout the day, and I’m happy to report that the foundation stayed put. I wore it for 12 hours, and I really liked it!

To make a long story short – I was impressed with this foundation. I know I will buy a full-size bottle in the not too distant future. I would, however, choose a lighter shade.

Max Factor’s Face Finity All Day Flawless 3 In 1 Foundation is available as 30ml for £12.99.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Reducing My Samples Stash – Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid Foundation Sand

Hi there! Today I’m reviewing Maybelline’s Dream Satin Liquid Foundation which I have (well, had) a sample of. The shade I tried is Sand. This foundation promises to make pores appear invisible and to create a perfect complexion. Sounds… cocky! I’ve now given the foundation a try, so let me tell you more about it.

I love how the foundation felt when I applied it. It was dreamy. And satiney. Wow! However, it was impossible to blend the foundation into my skin. I tried, and tried, and tried again – but it didn’t work. And I was disappointed to see that this foundation settled into my pores and fine lines, thus making them more visible.

This foundation doesn’t provide much coverage. However, it still manages to look unnatural and cakey. And on top of that I’ve noticed that this foundation oxidises quite a bit. My face looked orange after just a few hours.

Based on my experience I wouldn’t recommend this foundation. If you want a natural looking foundation that provides good coverage without looking like it’s been caked on, you need to look elsewhere. Maybelline’s Dream Satin Liquid Foundation is available as 30ml for £8.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Reducing My Samples Stash – Oriflame Giordani Gold Mineral Therapy Foundation Natural Beige

Hi there! Today’s post is about Oriflame’s Giordani Gold Mineral Therapy Foundation in Natural Beige. I’ve had this sample for quite some time. And I haven’t been keen on giving this foundation a try. That’s because, based on my experience, those ‘natural beige’ shades are usually way too dark for me (I’m a pale redhead). However, I’m making an effort to use the products I already have – and that includes all those samples too!

Now onto the review! The first thing I noticed was that 3ml is a lot of product for a foundation sample. Wow! The second thing I noticed was that the shade of this liquid foundation wasn’t really a natural beige – it was more of an orangey shade. But that was OK. It was a Sunday, I didn’t have to go anywhere, and so I just applied the foundation…

Then I took a really close look in the mirror, and I was ready to wash my face again! My face looked orange – but that wasn’t even the main issue. The main issue was that this foundation didn’t provide any coverage at all. I didn’t even look like I was wearing make-up. I looked like I had slathered my face in carrot oil. Ridiculous!

But since I wanted to give this foundation a chance, I left it on for the entire day. I must say that I expected the foundation to settle into the fine lines, and I was sure it would highlight dry patches – but it didn’t. And it actually felt nice on my skin. Now, I make room for the possibility that I helped by not applying powder, but who knows? And who cares? I certainly don’t because this foundation doesn’t cover anything at all, so I wouldn’t buy it anyway!

Oriflame’s Giordani Gold Mineral Therapy Foundation has been renamed. It’s current name is Oriflame Giordani Gold Long Wear Mineral Foundation. It’s available as 30ml for £18.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

I wouldn’t recommend… NYC Skin Matching Foundation 685 Fair

Hi there! Today’s post is about a foundation I’d never recommend – it’s NYC’s Skin Matching Foundation in 685 Fair.

I bought this foundation for £1 only. So I knew it wouldn’t be great. But I was hoping that it would be OK and that I would be able to wear it under my actual foundation – as a BB Cream or instead of a primer.

However, I’ve now binned the product. Here’s why.

First of all this shade is quite dark. I’ve seen foundations called ‘natural’ or ‘medium’ which were lighter. So this one isn’t for fair skin. In addition, I’m not sure why the product claims to adapt to skin tone – because it doesn’t.

The major problem with this foundation is that it’s not blendable. At first, it goes on streaky like a bad BB cream. And then you can’t blend / correct or touch this foundation with your fingers, a brush or a sponge – because it will flake immediately. 😦

I gave this foundation a second chance, a third chance, a fourth chance (and so on). I tried to make it work with different moisturisers and beauty tools. But my efforts remained fruitless. This foundation just doesn’t work at all. And because of this I can’t even tell you anything about the coverage or whether it lasts long…

If you see this foundation at a bargain store, don’t be tempted – no matter how cheap it is. There’s a reason why this full-size foundation ended up on offer for £1 in the first place.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Make-Up 30 Sand, Dream Mousse Blush 01 Dolly Pink & Dream Mousse Eyecolor 10 Caramel Karma

Hi there! My latest quest to finally use all those free samples filling up my drawers led me to Maybelline’s Dream Mousse products.

I didn’t do swatches because the samples didn’t contain much product. But I’ll tell you how these products fared anyway.

I applied Maybelline’s Dream Matte Mousse make-up in 30 Sand with my fingers. The foundation was easy to apply and it felt very nice on my skin. I think the coverage is quite impressive.

However, the product didn’t really work with my dry skin – it highlighted a big dry patch (the size of a 50p coin) which I didn’t even know I had. So I think this foundation is better suited to people with oily skin.

I didn’t care for Maybelline’s Dream Mouss blush in 01 Dolly Pink. The blush was much thinner than the foundation and I didn’t manage to apply it as evenly as I had hoped (I’ve never used a mousse blush before).

The good thing is that the blush can be wiped off or blended into the foundation easily, so mistakes can be corrected. However, the downside is that you really can wipe off the blush by accident. Also, this blush is glittery. And since it’s so very easily blendable, I looked like I had gold dust all over my face. This product is definitely not for me.

Maybelline’s Dream Mousse Eyecolor in 10 Caramel Karma fared better than the blush. The shade is a beautiful shimmery light brown which was easy to apply and blend. Unfortunately the mousse eyeshadow didn’t stick to my eyelids. So I ended up with lots of small brown flakes under my eyes and on my cheeks. I tried to wipe off those flakes – very carefully – but this started the unfortunate chain of events which made my face look like it was sprayed with gold dust.

I wouldn’t recommend any of these products to people with dry skin. However, I can see that these mousse products would work well for people with oily skin. In regards to the foundation, the coverage is very nice. I’m thinking of buying a full-size pot of foundation to see if I can somehow mix it with my much loved Pan Stik foundation this summer. 🙂

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Essence Soft Touch Mousse Make-Up 04 Matt Ivory

Hi there! Today’s post is about Essence’s Soft Touch Mousse Make-Up. I chose the lightest shade – 04 Matt Ivory. Let me tell you right away that I didn’t like this foundation. That’s not because the product is horrendous (it’s not) – but because it doesn’t agree with my skin.

And many apologies for what the sticker on the lid looks like. I’ve had the foundation in my make-up bag for a while and it looks like it got beaten up by the other products in there. 😉

Now let me explain why this foundation didn’t work for me. I have dry skin and I suffer from eczema. My holy grail of make-up – Max Factor’s Pan Stik – often makes me forget that I have difficult skin.

Unfortunately Essence’s mousse foundation did the opposite. As soon as I had applied the foundation, I knew I’d have to redo my make-up. The mousse foundation highlighted a few dry patches which I hadn’t even noticed before. 😦

I also didn’t like that the lightest shade – Matt Ivory – was too dark for me. If you’d like a comparison: Essence’s Matt Ivory is a tad darker than Maybelline’s Ivory (mousse foundation). So if you look for a mousse foundation that’s lighter than Maybelline’s Light Porcelain, keep looking!

I can see that Essence’s Soft Touch Mousse Make-Up could work for women with oily skin. But if you have dry skin, I doubt this foundation will bring you any joy. If you’d like to try this foundation, it’s available for £3.80 at Wilko’s.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde